The late afternoon sun began it's decent to the horizon. Nearly a week had passed since Kyrie had received the file to be an escort for the king's Shield. The ideal of having to accompany of man of such power and high standing did admittedly give Kyrie the show time jitters for the first time in a long time. A feeling she missed having in a sort of twisted way. As with any of the other clients she had, she painted on her face for the night, not missing a single detail. Carefully she added the soft extensions to her hair and styled them elegantly. The soft curls all falling perfectly into place in a sea of chocolate locks. The figure hugging dress she wore was perfect for the occasion, albeit a bit flashy, a detail that mattered not. No matter how well dressed an escort was, it was no secret as to what they were. The wine red dress she wore had meticulously stitched black floral designs, all of which was specifically placed to give the illusion of an even more appealing figure. Sophisticated enough for a proper event regardless of the person wearing it.
"Alright guys." Kyrie spoke softly as she filled a small watering can "...time for a drink." she said as she walked along a shelf holding a variety of flora. Below that shelf, lay a rack holding a variety of drying herbs. Some for cooking, some medicinal. When ever Kyrie was able to get out of the Wall, she made it a point to try and fine useful ingredients. Even with the use of potions and tonics to heal various ailments, the addiction rate of using such things was high and easily became a vicious cycle. Smiling at the plants that thanked her only by staying alive, she grabbed a light cover and left her home, prepared for a long night.
Kyrie arrived outside of the Caelum Via. The event itself drawing a spectacle of people. High profile politicians, local celebrities, musicians, bureaucrats, all of them arriving to congratulate the prince on his birthday. The event appearing almost as an important gala. Kyrie pulled her car into the round about. A valet politely tapped on the driver side window, opening the door for Kyrie and helping her out of her car and walking her towards the entrance of the building.
"May I get a name?" the valet asked as Kyrie handed her the keys to her vehicle.
"Carmen Veritas." Kyrie responded as she handed the valet a small tip for the night.
"Oh that won't be necessary Ms. Veritas. We've all been paid out full for the night." the valet responded quickly as he handed the tip back to Kyrie.
Kyrie shook her head, "Please. Keep it. Honest pay for honest work, am I correct?"
The valet nodded before quickly moving back to Kyrie's vehicle, taking it to the local parking garage. Kyrie walked towards the entrance of the building. Behind it's glass doors, she could see a sea of faces. Many she recognized from local papers and paparazzi shots, others as clients she'd seen frequenting her place of employment. None of which likely had a clue who she was. A quick change of hairstyles and colors always threw people into question as they asked if they had ever met her and she would simply shake her head no. Several armed guards sat outside of the doors: Crownsguard. Unlike the foot soldiers, the Kingsglaive, the Crownsguard were always called upon during events that required far more formality when it came to even security.
Kyrie prepared to walk past the guard to enter the building, only to be stopped suddenly but quietly by a guard, "Pardon the intrusion ma'am, but we need your name." a guard stated holding a list of guests. Again Kyrie gave her stage name to another person. The guard reading through the list failed to see her name. "Give me just a moment" the guard stated as he pulled out a smart device and typed her name into a secondary list. Again, Kyrie's stage name failed to appear. "I'm sorry ma'am. You aren't on the list at all."
Kyrie smiled, "I am the plus one for Mr. Amicitia." she responded confidently.
"Gladiolus? Ma'am, you're mistaken. He is on duty tonight. He won't be participating in tonight's events." the Crownsguard responded, the man growing suspicious of Kyrie as he soon began to look her up and down.
"Not Gladiolus sir. Clarus."
Both Crownsguard paused. Their leader and commander was seldom, if ever seen with any woman. The two men looked at each other for a moment. "I believe you ma'am, but do you mind if we call him to double check. No offense, but you never know what types of people try and get in to these events, know what I mean." Kyrie smiled and nodded, stepping out of the way for other members entering the party more freely. Their faces likely immediately identifiable by the Crownsguard members that stood guarding the door. She pulled out her phone, pretending to text someone and appear occupied as she awaited a response from the guards.
Several minutes later, a deep voice began speaking, briefly startling Kyrie as she stood upright and smiled gently, "What seems to be the problem. Why have you called me from the King?" Clarus asked sternly, taking a quick drink from the snifter in his hand
"Sir." both Crownsguard said in unison as they suddenly stood at attention "Sir Ms. Veritas states that she is here at your request. We couldn't find her name listed, and so we called you down to confirm what was said."
Clarus' brow furrowed for a moment as he looked at Kyrie, "I don't recall having called in a plus one at all." he stated sharply "Who exactly called you in as my company?"
With ease, Kyrie was able to pull out part of the document handed to her by her Madam, being sure to hand the private document to Clarus without disclosing any information to the Crownsguard whose attention had been piqued.
Rubbing his brow, Clarus shook his head before standing upright "Ah." Extending and open arm as an invitation to Kyrie, she gently locked arms with his. The man standing a bit more upright as she did, giving him a temporary excess of confidence. Kyrie nodded at the Crownsguard as her and Clarus walked passed them, noting the slight lean and whisper one gave to the other as the left the earshot of Clarus.
The Shield walked confidently back to the elevators which would lead them to the primary party area, Kyrie holding gently to his arm still. The pair stood in silence as the elevator made it's way from the top floor, down to the main floor. Once it did arrive, Clarus extended his hand forward, asking Kyrie to enter first which she did without question followed by him. Another small group prepared to enter the elevator with the pair, however, they stopped dead in their tracks when the Shield shook his head "no" slightly at them. The door finally shut, Clarus stood facing towards them as the elevator rose. His arm no longer and invitation to Kyrie.
"Ms. Veritas. I'm no fool to exactly what it is you are, or rather what you do. With that said, I did not put an order out for you. Do you have any information on who exactly, might have placed this order for the night?" Clarus asked. A certain seriousness in his tone threatening Kyrie slightly.
"Unfortunately sir, I am unsure. I was simply handed the contract listed and the name attached to it by my Madam." Kyrie responded, her eyes fixed forward at the doors.
Clarus looked down at the ground for a moment. His mind trying to think of any person he might know who might ask for such company for him, and whether it was a move done to humiliate him or stir up unwarranted paparazzi rumors, "Given that you haven't been paid for your services, we should be able to get you out of here with both our dignities intact."
"My fees have been paid in full, sir. However anything that happens hence forth outside of what I was initially paid for is extra and shall be charged as such." Kyrie said bluntly. Her honesty making Clarus grimace slightly. Kyrie noted the expression and carefully stepped in front of Clarus, her eyes and charming smile making contact with Clarus' slightly downcast and serious expression "With all that said sir, I have absolutely no qualms just being an accessory for the night. I can also leave. Which ever you would prefer. I lose nothing."
The playful gaze and smile she gave Clarus brought out a smirk from the man as well as a quick huffed out laugh, "Ms. Veritas, I am no longer a young man. I am beyond these days. This is the sort of thing I would expect someone like my son to do now."
"Ah, but it WAS something you did." Kyrie said playfully as she gently grabbed the snifter from his hand and took a small sip herself, the man letting out a chuckle when she did as she interlocked her arm back with his.
"Indeed it was something I had done prior to marriage. I'm sure you're aware of how an image like this will look to those at this party." Clarus responded, his stature relaxing slightly giving no resistance to Kyrie's moves.
Kyrie playfully pretended to think for a moment, "And how does it look Mr. Amicitia? Why, from my perspective, I see a handsome gentleman immersed in nothing more than company to a party." she said before suddenly changing her demeanor, grabbing gently to the lapels of his coat. When she pressed her fingers gently into his chest, she was surprised by how strong the man still was despite his age.
Clarus gently grabbed her wrist, moving it off of his chest. A glimpse of a promiscuous youth shone through for only a moment as he smiled, "Company indeed. Stay as company and nothing more." as the doors of elevator opened he brought her arm back down into his and walked them both out as he leaned and whispered into her ear "...let's find out exactly who called in for this company shall we?" Kyrie smiled and nodded at his words, standing tall as they entered the party.
For a short while Kyrie entertained Clarus, the man having begun to drown himself in brandy and relaxing more as the night progressed. Kyrie had managed to avoid drinking too much, knowing better than to mix work and alcohol in large amounts. She was introduced to many dignitaries as nothing more than "a friend" by Clarus, his formal arm lock with her soon turning into a large arm resting heavily across her shoulders as she held his hand. Kyrie was taken aback by the grandeur of the party itself. While she had been to many formal events escorting various patrons, never had she been to one which called in a far higher caliber than even she was prepared for. No detail was missed and every expense was taken to ensure that the celebration for the prince was nothing short of a proper event. In a way, it felt more like a ball and less like a birthday. Even if she could fake her confidence, she still found some comfort being in the company of Clarus who seemed to be enjoying her company as well.
"Reggie!" Clarus shouted, surprising Kyrie as the man abruptly turned and began headed quickly towards the name he called. In an instant the two of them stood before the high king.
"Your majesty." Kyrie stated softly, letting out a very small courtesy as she spoke. The security that was Clarus' heavy arm over her shoulders lifting and removing themselves entirely.
King Regis nodded slightly at Kyrie, addressing her even for a moment, "Clarus. You disappeared after you went downstairs. I can see why" the king said smiling softly at Kyrie, the red in his cheeks showing that the high king had also been drinking.
"Yes it would appear that I have the pleasure of having had warmth called for me tonight. Can I assume this was your doing?" Clarus said. A slight banter beginning between the two old friends.
"Not I Clarus. You and I are no longer fit enough to even entertain women of this caliber. Spry as our minds may still be." King Regis laughed out as Clarus soon joined him.
"Insult yourself old friend. While YOU may no longer be able to entertain, I can assure you I have no such issues." Clarus laughed out as he dropped his arm heavily around Kyrie's shoulders again "Have I not kept you entertained for the night Ms. Veritas?" the Shield then asked, bringing her closer to his side.
Kyrie smiled widely, nursing the champagne in her hand, "It has certainly been an honor to be here with you Mr. Amicitia."
Clarus widened his eyes at King Regis, "My King you heard from the horse's mouth. It has been an honor to be here with me."
"A paid honor none the less." King Regis fired back instantly, patting his friend heavily on the arm. The two men continued their banter before they began to walk through the party, interacting with guests as the night continued to progress. For every half hour that seemed to go buy, another drink seemed to find it's way into Clarus' system and the formal dignitary that Kyrie had met downstairs, had turned into a boisterous young man at heart. His manner of speaking once held very composed, soon turned into almost a theatrical act as the man shared old war stories alongside the high King. Both men smiling and laughing at the memories they had that entertained guests. Even the darkest stories seemed to be met with a large bit of humor as they spoke of old adventures. The guests that both men spoke to seeming more than entertained at the stories shared by both men.
Despite their laughter and smiling faces, Kyrie could see the fair bit of anguish behind every word. The two men had lived through many wars and had lived long enough to see another war start. In her work at the Seeing Eye, Kyrie had become very familiarized with the anguish that soldiers seemed to bury behind drinks and laughter. Many of them having no one except their fellow soldiers to lean on to keep them from swallowing lead pills. She watched it almost daily. Even so, it was her job to make sure that these souls more broken than her's felt needed and as she listened to Clarus speak through the darkest events and stories he laughed at, she grabbed around his waist just a little bit tighter. The action not going unnoticed as he would bring her in just a little bit closer every time.
Several hours had passed as the night came to a close. The high king having already been escorted to his suite within the building, seen off properly by Clarus. The Shield now needing to use Kyrie as almost a crutch of sorts as he began to fumble heavily in his steps. Thankfully his suite for the night was merely down the hall from the king, making the trip with the heavy man more or less bearable. With as much dignity as he could muster, Clarus opened the door to the room, removing his heavy weight from around Kyrie shoulders. As per usual, Kyrie entered the room along side Clarus, closing the door quietly behind her. The Shield headed over to wet bar within the suite, seeming to drink his weight in water as he shook his head. For several minutes Clarus stood there, seeming to be quietly swaying in his thoughts as he drank another glass of water.
"Mr. Amicitia?" Kyrie asked quietly gently placing her hands on his back and leaning her head on him "Shall I go now."
Clarus shook his head softly, "No Ms. Veritas, but please. My name is Clarus. Though I am aged, I am not that aged." he chuckled out as he tried to right his stance, fumbling backwards slightly.
"As you wish. But Clarus, please, at least lay down. Gods forbid you call down." Kyrie said as she guided him towards the bed. The man falling heavily into the plush gold and dark green duvet covers. A sleepy, heavy sigh leaving his lungs as he lay there. Kyrie went back to the wet bar, grabbing a glass of water and leaving it by the night stand next to the bed. A good measure she had learned not from her chosen career, but a few too many nights out. She lay herself softly next to Clarus. The man still laying in the position he had fallen in as his feet rested on the ground Gently, Kyrie lay next to him on her side, letting her finger trace the silhouette of his face. Her action reciprocated by him as as he ran his fingers along her arm. Eyes still sealed shut. The pair lay quietly this way. Neither person saying a single word. The man seeming to be almost lulled to sleep. All at once, a heavy knocked disturbed the silence in the room. Clarus tightened his already closed eyes. The heavy lines that surrounded them now more pronounced. "Would you like me to answer that?" Kyrie asked softly, letting her fingers run along his hand. The Shield nodded and as gracefully as she could, Kyrie rose from the bed, answering the door.
"Where is the Commander?" a hardened voice asked almost cruely stated a tall, battle scarred man. The man wasting no time looking Kyrie up and down "Why are you here?"
Kyrie opened the door wider, allowing the man access into the suite to Clarus, "The Commander is just this way. My business here lies between he and I, not you." she stated boldly with a pursed smile. The man walked in with an unmoving expression as he passed Kyrie.
"Captain Drautos. To what do I owe this disturbance." Clarus stated as he sat up as dignified as he could in the bed. The soft sheet beckoning the Shield to lay down and sleep.
"Get out and wait." Captain Drautos said as he glared at Kyrie. She looked over to Clarus who nodded, agreeing with the Captain.
Kyrie exited the room almost reluctantly. The feeling she got from Captain Drautos seeming almost sinister and dark to her. Given her line of work, she had worked with and dealt with plenty of dishonest folk and had developed almost a sense for which people were truly dishonest, compared to which were just hardened and wearing a mask for the sake of appearances. As she stood outside of the suite, she watched as several Crownsguard passed her. All of them avoiding making any eye contact with her at all. It wasn't their place to say anything to her, nor her's to say anything to them. When the Captain finally exited the room, he held the door open for Kyrie. His eyes judging her sternly as she re-entered the room. The door behind him shutting loudly, disturbing the quiet room.
Clarus sighed heavily, "I swear by the Gods that if any man should be the one to kill me, it will be that one."
Kyrie walked over to him sympathetically, running her fingers through his grayed hairs and along his jawline. The action forcing the drunken man to look up at her slightly, "We should all be so blessed to be killed by those within good company."
"Hm. Perhaps." he responded, the man slowly giving in to the temptations of Kyrie's soft touch and letting himself relax into her hands. His hands slowly beginning to travel over the soft skin on her arms. Mustering what drunken strength he could, Clarus stood upright. What bit of coordination he had being used to unzip the back of Kyrie's dress. His hands wandering along the soft skin that covered her. Burying his face in her neck, he breathed deeply. The smell of her perfume filling his nose and enticing him greatly. As carefully as he could in his state, he placed her down onto the bed. His mind wandering to placed he hadn't gone in a very long time. As he buried his face in her neck again, fully prepared to take what all he could, he stopped. A soft buried laugh coming from his mouth.
Kyrie ran her fingers over his shoulders, " Is something wrong Mr. Amicitia?"
Clarus shook his head, "I should say not, Carmen. But I truly cannot do this. My loyalty lay with my wife." He said, dropping his head and enjoying the light grazes from Kyrie's fingers.
"And where does your wife lay Mr. Amicitia?" Kyrie asked innocently enough. Her fingers trailing along Clarus' skin.
"...she lay quietly in a grave...and I miss her every day."
Kyrie rose from her position, forcing Clarus back down into the bed, "I, I am so sorry Clarus. Might I ask when?"
"Nearly 20 years ago now. Though, the wound feels fresh tonight." he responded as his fingers trailed the exposed skin on Kyrie's back. The man's fingers seeming to indulge in the skin contact he hadn't felt since his wife's passing "You should think me an old fool as Reggie stated." he then laughed.
"Not at all Clarus. I find it extremely loyal and romantic that your wife still has your heart even after all these years. That is the sort of things one reads about it fairytales." Carefully Kyrie started to remove Clarus' overcoat and unbutton his shirt. The man seeming to slowly fall asleep as she did so. The large faded eagle on his chest stunning her a bit. She hadn't been prepared to see such a large tattoo on such a formal gentleman.
Clarus' eyes shut as sleep beckoned his name, "Life has a cruel sense of humor. I have survived wars. I have watched my comrades and closest companions fall and perish by my feet. Yet the cruelest injustice was the gods snatching her from me before I could hold her one more time." Without much resistance, Clarus now followed Kyrie's guiding hand as she tucked him properly in to bed, and for an hour, she stay seated next to him, letting her fingers trail along his skin. When she was certain he had fallen asleep, she prepared to leave. "Please...stay for the night. Humor a old man with a warm body." Clarus said quietly, moving the sheets as a welcoming gesture for her to lay with him. Kyrie nodded and crawled in to bed with him. The soft skin on her back laying flush against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her and held her tightly. A muscle memory he likely shared with his wife many times before her passing.
"How much will I owe you in the morning, Carmen?"
"It's on the house tonight, Clarus. Goodnight."
"Dude! I am SMOKED." Promptu said loudly. His voice echoing in the hotel lobby.
"RRRRRrriight." Noctis yawned out as he stretched his arms upwards.
"Yes well, perhaps you should be thanking your new the vehicle for exhausting it's strengths. How you are able to avoid any sort of traffic violations is truly beyond me, Noct." Ignis stated as he straightened his over coat and shook his head.
"Yeah. Next time, I'm drivin'. No offense Iggy." Gladiolus stated as he straightened out his uniform "Can't exactly baby sit the prince when we aren't able to keep up with him."
"Gladio, you and I both know my vehicle could never keep up with this new one that Noctis has. At most, we could see him as a speck on the horizon." Ignis said straightening his glasses.
"Yeah well, goin' the speed limit the entire time won't exactly let us keep either." Gladiolus responded.
The group of men walked into Caelum Via as the horizon began to glow purple. The Crownsguard that guarded the building just beginning to turn shifts as they walked in. A nod from Gladiolus to those in the Crownsguard being more than enough to get the group in no questions asked. The men stood awaiting the elevator. Any and all energy they ad during the night completely gone as they spent the majority of the night speeding through the streets of Insomnia. As the elevator doors dinged and opened, one of the guards quickly called out to Gladiolus. "Gladiolus! Sir!" The lesser ranking guards tone aggravating the Shield to the future king just ever so as he told his group of friends to simply leave. He would have to catch the next elevator up.
"Yeah?" Gladiolus responded sternly as his arms crossed heavily in front of his chest.
"Sir...I don't mean to gossip but-"
"If you don't mean to gossip, than why are you doing it?" Gladiolus interrupted. The young Shield was well aware that there were bound to be many rumors about the nights happenings and exhaustion had him less than tolerant of hearing about those rumors before the ink had even had a chance to dry on the local papers.
"Sir, it's just that.." the Crownsguard leaned forward and spoke quietly "...it's just that your father was seen with a woman tonight."
Gladiolus shrugged, "And? I'm sure he was seen with lots of women tonight. It's kind of a big event."
The Crownsguard shook his head, "No sir. He was seen with ONE woman all night."
Gladiolus raised an eyebrow. That sort of thing was outside of what his father would ever do without having introduced any strange women to his family first. "That's different. She seem nice?" the young Shield then asked as he waited for the elevator to return.
"Uh well...if I'm being honest sir...I'm fairly certain she may have been a prostitute." the Crownsguard said, fully expecting to suddenly have his face beaten in as Gladiolus' temper seemed to begin to flare. A vein traveling across the large man's forehead as he stared at the soldier.
"Bull. There's no way he'd EVER do something like that. Pretty sure there is a good explanation for who ever this woman might be. If you're smart, you'll keep your mouth shut about things you don't know about." Gladiolus snapped out, his voice becoming louder as he walked into the elevator.
"Yes sir. She hasn't left you just so you know though." the Crownsguard said as the elevator shut.
Gladiolus rode the elevator up to the floor his father would be staying on in silence. The only company he had being a very standard type of elevator music that seemed to loop ever few seconds, aggravating him further. He knew his father and respected him greatly. There was simply no way his father would ever hire a prostitute, let alone stay with one all night. Even during his father's darkest and drunkest times, he still maintained his composure when it came to the dealing of women. A lesson Gladiolus admitted that he still needed to learn desperately. The elevator door couldn't open fast enough as the young Shield quickly walked out of it. The Crownsguard that were set to keep watch on all those on the floor immediately standing at attention as they righted their posture and righted their stances.
"Where is the Commander staying?" Gladiolus asked no one in particular and quickly, several of the members pointed down the hall towards the room Clarus was in for the night. "Thanks" Gladiolus said as he walked purposefully towards the room. The guard watching the room swiping a card and opening the door for the young Shield, allowing him immediate entry. Quietly, Gladiolus slipped in to the room. Walking quietly, he looked around the suit. The room appearing almost completely unused aside from two sets of shoes that sat on the floor, both neat and tidy. He cringed slightly at the sight of the red heels that sat next to his father's well polished shoes. His confidence in his father's upstanding behavior beginning to diminish by the second. He could see the outline of his father snoring slightly below sheets and if he didn't know any better, the shirt and over coat in the chair near the bed likely being an indicator of his father's matter of apparel. He looked over the sleeping of his father and sure enough, a woman lay. Her tiny frame nearly buried beneath his fathers. One would never even know were there had it not been for her shoes on the floor.
Gladiolus walked quietly to the side of the bed Kyrie lay on in hopes to get a good look at who she was and shock both her and his father awake. Much to the young Shield's surprise, Kyrie lay awake, her eyes making contact with his as she mouthed the words "help me" to him. Clarus' bodyweight had begun shifting on top of her's and she didn't want to push the man over and disturb his sleep. Gladiolus grabbed a large pillow that wasn't in use and carefully pushed his father off of Kyrie, averting his eyes from the laying pair, not wanting to see his father or Kyrie nude. Quickly yet carefully, Kyrie slipped out from Clarus' grip and in her place she pressed a pillow. The older man gripping it tightly as he slumbered. Gladiolus' back was turned as Kyrie stood upright, stretching her very stiff limbs.
"Thank you for that." she whispered to Gladiolus as she walked in front of him.
Much to the young Shield's surprise, she was still fully clothed, "Huh. Fast dresser." he said, noting that she was still wearing the clothes likely from the night before.
Kyrie let out a quiet laugh, "Yeah I guess if you keep your clothes on when you go to sleep you can leave faster." Her limbs still very stiff from having laid in the same position all night, she struggled to zip up the back of her dress "I'm sorry to ask, but can you zip me up please?"
Gladiolus readily accepted, even if she wasn't perfect, Kyrie was by no means hard on the eyes. As he zipped up the dress, he noted just exactly how flawless her skin was. He could see why his father had fallen in to the temptation. "C'mon. Let's get you out of here." As the pair rode the elevator back down to the main floor, Gladiolus couldn't help but ask questions. "So...what can I call you?"
"Hm, I guess that depends on your mood." Kyrie responded playfully "Generally though, people call me Carmen Veritas."
"Carmen Veritas huh. In the world of fake stage names, that's what you picked?" Gladiolus said in a teasing manner.
Kyrie giggled a bit, "Hey. It get's the job done. I assume you're Gladiolus than?"
"The one and only." Gladiolus replied "How'd you figure that out? Dad tell you?"
"No actually. Some of the Crownsguard who stopped me assumed I was here with you." Kyrie responded, checking her makeup in the reflection of the glass in the elevator.
Gladiolus nodded, "Yeah I can see why. You're what? 21?" he asked.
"23 actually. I must be looking a bit old today though if you think I'm 21." she joked as she turned to stand in front of the young Shield. "So. Can I ask why it is you felt the need to come in? I mean, you saved me from being crushed afterall, but why come in at all?"
Gladiolus cocked an eyebrow, "Hey now. Wouldn't want to call you jailbait. Only came in 'cause I heard my dad was in bed with a hooker." he stated bluntly.
Kyrie made a disgruntled face, leaning forwards in a flirtatious manner "A hooker? Ouch. That hurts. I'm an escort thank you."
"There really a difference?"
"Um, yeah. Hookers are paid for sex and only sex. I'm paid for my company." Kyrie stated proudly "...and trust me, my company isn't cheap."
Gladiolus nodded and smirked, "Speaking from experience, I don't usually expect to get bent over a table when I keep people company."
Kyrie shrugged, "Well maybe you just aren't keeping the right sort of company then. To be fair, that costs extra...like, a lot extra."
"Yeah. I imagine. So...how much does my dad owe you for...I guess indulging himself." Gladiolus asked, disappointed that his father would stoop to such a low.
"Nothing. I was paid to keep him company, and I did. Believe it or not, your father is a faithful, honest man. He simply didn't want to be alone for the night." Kyrie said as the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
"You're kidding, right?"
"No not at all. He was a perfect gentleman." Kyrie stated as she spoke to the valet to have her car driven back to her from the parking garage.
"Huh. That's, actually really good to know." Gladiolus stated with a sigh of relief.
The pair stood outside of Caelum Via as Kyrie waited for her car to be brought to her. Gods only know how far away exactly the valet had to park given the sheer volume of guests. The sun had just barely began to rise above the horizon. The purple sky turning to various shades of red. Gladiolus pulled out a cigar. Despite having a long night celebrating with prince Noctis, he hadn't even been able to smoke it as he and Ignis spent the majority of the night chasing the young prince around town. The scent of the cigar filled the air around the pair. Kyrie looking at the tightly rolled cigar enviously. When Gladiolus noticed her slightly envious stare, he offered her a puff.
"What? No hesitation in handing your cigar over so freely?" Kyrie said as she gently took the cigar from his hand.
"Nah. You seem clean cut enough if my dad was willing to hook up with you..." he joked "Thank the gods you didn't though."
"Oh? And why is that" Kyrie said, her car coming in to view as the valet pulled around.
"I didn't even get a date tonight. The hell should my dad of all people be allowed to have a date and a hook up." The pair laughed briefly. Gladiolus walking with Kyrie to the driver side and helping her in to her vehicle, much to the surprise of the valet. "If I weren't dead tired I'd at least offer to take you out for breakfast." the young Shield then stated
Kyrie perked up at the idea, "I SO wish. I don't know how you blue bloods eat the way you do. Especially you. Gods you're gigantic."
Gladiolus laughed at the comment, "Let's plan it out then. How do I get ahold of you?" he asked bluntly.
Kyrie smiled as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pen. Without even the slightest hesitation, she grabbed the young Shield's hand and wrote her phone number across Gladiolus' palm, "This is my personal number. Give it out and I'll-"
"You'll what? Bill me?" Gladiolus teased.
"Don't tempt me." she responded before smiling and speeding off.
Gladiolus stood and watched her car disappear into the start of Insomnia traffic. While it wasn't the proudest phone number he had ever gotten, it was still one for the night. His pride would never allow him to be outdone by his father of all people. When he turned to walk back into the building, Ignis stood, shaking his head.
"Really Gladio. An escort. I believe even for you, that's a bit low." Ignis said, his tone both condescending and teasing at the same time.
"Escort or not, she's damn good looking. I won't pass that up."
"Yes...clearly..."
